Lamine Yamal Shines as Spain Defeats France 2-1 to Reach Euro 2024 Final
Lamine Yamal enters into the history books as he becomes the youngest player ever to score a goal in the tournament’s history.
In Munich, Spain pulled off an incredible comeback to defeat France 2-1 and book their spot in the Euro 2024 final.
With Spain’s 2-1 victory against France in Munich on Tuesday, Lamine Yamal, 16, became the youngest goalscorer in the tournament’s history and advanced to the Euro 2024 final.
when behind when Randal Kolo Muani nodded in a cross from Kylian Mbappe in the ninth minute, Spain scored twice in the next four minutes to turn the game around against a team that had only given up once in their previous five tournament games.
Yamal, who turns 17 the day before Sunday’s final in Berlin against either the Netherlands or England, equalized with an incredible long-range shot that curled past Mike Maignan’s flying fingertips and into the top corner. After a deflection off Jules Kounde, Dani Olmo skillfully collected a loose ball and fired a low effort into the net to give Spain the lead on the 25th minute mark.
Once they took the lead, Spain, who are experts at managing midfield games, shut down. They usually held possession instead of attacking on the counter, which allowed them to control the game and win. Three-time winners Reaching just one match short of a record-breaking fourth title, Spain made history by being the first team to win six games at a Euros.
France, finalists in three of the last four international competitions, will be questioned about why, despite having an abundance of attacking talent, they were unable to generate any early pressure.
Before the game, France had only scored three goals, none of which had been scored by a French player through open play. In response, head coach Didier Deschamps benched striker Antoine Griezmann in favor of Ousmane Dembele.
Four minutes in, Yamal provided the opening opportunity of the game by lofting a curling cross to an unmarked Fabian Ruiz, who headed over from close range. After Mbappe glided down the left wing and attempted an exact replica of Yamal’s cross four minutes later, Kolo Muani’s header gave France the lead.
Kolo Muani’s opening goal was the result of a mistake by youngster Aymeric Laporte and Marc Cucurella, but the pre-match suspicions were directed toward Spain’s veterans Jesus Navas, 38, and Nacho, 34, who took the place of Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand, who were suspended.
Spain appeared to be losing the match after France’s goal, but the game’s youngest player pulled off a brilliant move to tie the scores. Yamal, who had collected the ball well outside the area, cut inside, glanced at the goal, and then unleashed a perfect curling strike that went into the upper left corner.
With the goal, Yamal—who has already recorded three assists at Euro 2024—broke the record for the youngest goal scorer in the history of the competition by one and a half years. Thirteen minutes after France’s first goal, Lamal’s goal sparked Spain’s offensive, and Olmo gave La Roja the lead four minutes later.
After a clearing cross was collected, Olmo leaped acrobatically, ducked under a defender, and blasted goalward; his strike deflected off Kounde and bounced in. With five minutes remaining, France’s captain had the finest opportunity to send the game into overtime, but Mbappe blasted wide of the mark with only goalkeeper Unai Simon to beat.
Also Read: Cristiano Ronaldo Laments Portugal’s Euro 2024 Exit After France Defeat
Lamine Yamal, who turns 17 on Saturday, was named player of the match. He stated:
“I’m thrilled to have advanced to the final. Right now, winning is the most crucial thing to do. “We were going through a rough time. You wouldn’t anticipate a goal that quickly, but I’m thrilled that I was able to put it in where it went.
“I try not to think too much, have fun, and support the squad. If it turns out this way, I’m glad and satisfied with the win. “I want to keep winning. My crew and I will celebrate my birthday here in Germany.”
The man who scored Spain’s second goal, Dani Olmo, stated:
“Just one more step remains. To be in the final is fantastic. “I don’t care who scored the goal I scored. It was crucial for the group. It is right that we be in this final. Glory is just one step away from us.
“We lost by one goal, which was terrible, but we didn’t give up. Then Lamine scored the most incredible goal. Who we have in the final is irrelevant.”
Head of France Didier Deschamps stated:
“Spain demonstrated their superiority as a squad tonight. “We had the good fortune to start the scoring, but their superior control caused us difficulties.
“They displayed every one of their traits tonight. Maybe since we were a little less experienced, there was some technical waste, especially when the game was being built. We didn’t move forward sufficiently.